OFFENSIVE LINE

What’s gone right

Joe D’Alessandris’ blockers have contributed to Philip Rivers incurring the fewest hits (18) of any NFL quarterback this season, one season after Rivers was the AFC’s most-sacked quarterback. Blocking is a factor in the offense coming out of Week 7, ranked first in the NFL in pass-completion percentage (73.9), second in first downs (171) and third in yards (3,285).

What’s gone wrong

Injuries caused four starting linemen to miss at least one game. Chad Rinehart, the left guard, hasn’t played since leaving the Week 3 game with a toe injury. Left tackle King Dunlap (concussion) missed two games and left two others. Guard Jeromey Clary (collarbone) and tackle D.J. Fluker (concussion) missed one. But backups helped keep the line functional.

Player who has stepped up

Brainy center Nick Hardwick, a team captain, helped to speed up the acclimation of three newcomers to the starting unit and Clary’s switch from tackle to guard. Also, Hardwick made all seven starts, running his streak to 56 starts in a row. (Johnnie Troutman, a second-year guard, made all four starts in place of Rinehart.)

Player who still needs some work

Last year as a rookie, Troutman didn’t play in a game and also missed a few months of practice while recovering from a torn chest muscle. He was, therefore, a de facto rookie this year. He has shown good power at times but had three false starts in a span of two games. Chargers coach Mike McCoy hates such presnap penalties.

What this unit needs to accomplish in the second half

It’s a versatile group, but better health would be welcomed, especially going into the matchups with the AFC West rival Chiefs, whose defense through seven games may have been the NFL’s best. The Chargers have been preparing since May to offset injuries. They’d rather not find out whether they can click without Hardwick.